1 | Trends Summer 2015
GLACUHOTrends G r e a t L a k e s A s s o c i atio n o f C o lle g e a n d U n iv ersit y Housing Off icers
G REAT LAKES ASSOCIATION C OLLEGE UNIVERSITY HOUSING OFFICERS
August 2015
OF AND
Cover photo taken at The Ohio State University
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C OM M U N ICATIO NS AND MARKET ING COMMIT T E E Jeremy Alexander Eastern Illinois University
Bri Cooper University of Illinois at Chicago
Elizabeth Ackman Saint Joseph’s College
Dexter Earney Grand Valley State University
Kyleen Ammerman Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Jamillya Hardley Grand Valley State University
Becky Borowiak Northern Illinois University Emilee Bruner Riverfront Residence Hall Ryan Bye Valparaiso University Daniel Chou Ferris State University
Erica Hoffman Ball State University Shannon Horner Marian University Kyle Hovest Indiana University Rexann Whorton Lake Forest College
G L A CU H O B O A R D OF DIRECTORS President Joshua Lawrie, Ph.D. Bowling Green State University
Michigan Delegate Matea Čaluk Michigan State University
President-Elect Paul Hubinsky Northwestern University
Ohio Delegate Spencer Giese The Ohio State University
Past President Stacy Oliver-Sikorski Lake Forest College
Communications and Marketing Chair Jeremy Alexander Eastern Illinois University
Secretary Sara Crawford Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Contemporary Issues Chair Moe Samad Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Treasurer Justin Schuch Western Illinois University Exhibitor Liaison Joe Roselieb Western Illinois University Technology Coordinator Eric Musselman DePaul University 2015 Conference Co-Host Katie Bosio Kettering University 2016 Conference Co-Host Michelle Sujka University of Cincinnati Illinois Delegate Tiffany Gonzales Northwestern University Indiana Delegate Jacob E Knight Franklin College
Campus Safety and Crisis Management Chair Aramis Watson The Ohio State University Facilities and Operations Chair Josh Skillman Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Health and Wellness Chair Carianne Meng Denison University Inclusion and Equity Chair Michael King Ball State University Professional Foundations Chair Zac Birch Purdue University Programming and Development Chair Doug Meyer Illinois Wesleyan University Student Learning Chair Debbie Gettemy Northern Illinois University
Trends is published four times yearly by the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) for members of the association. GLACUHO is a non-profit organization that strives to: •
Better prepare housing officers to meet the diverse and changing needs of those we serve with primary concern for students
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Contribute to the improvement of dining services, residential life, residential services and residential facilities provided by housing officers
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Advance and communicate professional knowledge and standards in the field of housing
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Provide opportunities for the education and professional development of housing officers
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Sponsor activities and services which assist housing officers in the exchange and distribution of information and ideas
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Support the goals and purposes of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International (ACUHO-I).
EDITORIAL GUIDELINES All members of GLACUHO institutions are encouraged to submit articles for publication. Be sure to indicate author’s name, institution, e-mail address and GLACUHO committee or Board affiliation, if applicable. Articles not received on time or not published will be considered for the next issue. Necessary editorial revisions will be made to ensure publication quality and to meet space requirements. Material that has been submitted to other publications is discouraged. Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy of references, quotations, tables, and figures submitted for publication. Authors further hold GLACUHO harmless from any liability resulting from publication of articles. Any editorial mention of commercial interests in intended entirely as an information service and should not be construed as an endorsement, actual or implied, by GLACUHO. Submission should be made at www.glacuho. org/?Trends_Submissions Comments, and questions for Trends can be sent to Jeremy Alexander, GLACUHO Communications and Marketing Committee Chair, via e-mail at trends@ glacuho.org. Printed materials can be sent via postal mail to: Jeremy Alexander GLACUHO Communications and Marketing Chair MLK Jr. University Union - Housing and Dining Services, 600 Lincoln Ave | Charleston, IL 61920 ADVERTISEMENTS For information, please contact the GLACUHO Communications and Marketing Chair. GLACUHO reserves the right to reject any advertisement not in consonance with the principles of the GLACUHO Resolution on Pluralism (1989) or the GLACUHO Diversity Statement as (revised 1998). Advertising of a product or service in this publication should not be construed as an endorsement.
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Table of Contents
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14 B o ard Memb er Sp ot l ig ht
28 6
Memb er Sp ot l ig ht 7 Universit y Sp ot l ig ht
10
A Six L etter Word w it h a Dr amat i c Inf lu e nc e
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L ifest y le S e c t i on
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Promot i ng Ac a d e mic s w it h in ou r R esidenc e Ha l ls
21
How to Ma ke Fr ie nds in a Ne w Cit y
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T he Wi nd i ng Pat h of Gr ie f
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Now What ? : Wel lb e ing T h rou g h Tr ansit i on
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34
# WEW, How t he s ma l l ac t s of He rBr ina She phe rd has af fe c te d us 31 Bumps in t he ro ad: Adv ice for p e rs ona l cr is e s
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G REAT LAKES ASSOCIATION C OLLEGE UNIVERSITY HOUSING OFFICERS OF AND
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From the President Dear GLACUHO Family – On residential campuses August and early September bring a new sense of life and energy to colleges and universities across the GLACUHO region. This is my favorite time of year - being a first-generation college student I will never forget my first steps on campus, the staff who welcomed me, and the student affairs practitioners who impacted me in ways that have forever changed my life. I know without a doubt the long days, endless hours of training, facility maintenance and renovation, and move-in preparations you’ve been planning and implementing are doing the same for a student on your campus. It is easy to get caught in the busy-ness of fall and hard to remember the very real and positive impact Housing and Residence Life programs have on undergraduate students. Through your work you’re creating safe, inclusive, thoughtful and intentional learning environments that soon will feel like home to your residents. As the summer has gone by we have seen a number of campuses across our country and specifically in our own region face financial and enrollment challenges. The GLACUHO region has seen positions go unfilled, layoffs implemented and program budgets cut which has resulted in many of us needing to do more with less staff and resources. Unfortunately, it seems this trend may not be temporary. Many experts agree that financial models used by higher education systems must shift and anticipate ongoing declines in state support and continued emphasis on increasing enrollment and retention. The current era of financial instability will impact professional development funds across our region. Professionals will need to make the tough decision on where to spend their resources and many will have to spend out of pocket. It is important in times like this to examine what value is added by attending conferences and workshops. With all of this in mind, we have designed the 2015 Annual GLACUHO Conference. We have worked hard to select a strong slate of programs. The Flint Team has spent hours working with the budget to hold the cost the same as last year’s rate of $190. We have also changed when the case study occurs to eliminate an additional night of travel. GLACUHO will continue to look for ways to keep cost low, but will not sacrifice the quality of your professional development. My professional home has always been with GLACUHO. I truly believe in GLACUHO and believe that the Annual Conference will provide outstanding educational opportunities for you and your staff. This summer we have seen solid results from the Strategic Task Force. The task force submitted a draft to the Board of Directors. This draft has been reviewed and feedback provided to the task force. In addition, past presidents have weighed in on the draft. Our goal will be to share a final draft just prior to our annual conference in Flint. In the coming months as you create professional development plans, submit preferences for conferences you would like to attend and balance the funds available with any personal investment you may need to make, know that GLACUHO is paying close attention to the happenings at our member institutions. Without a doubt we plan to continue providing the best opportunities for housing officers to learn, lead and serve and the most economic rate possible. As always, if at any point you have questions or feedback; feel free to contact me at president@glacuho.org. Sincerely –
Joshua D. Lawrie, Ph.D. GLACUHO President
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Board Member Spotlight: Jeremy Alexander BY EMILEE BRUNER
| RIVERFRONT RESIDENCE HALL
B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & M A R K E T I N G C O M M I T T E E
day, it’s a juggling act keeping everything that I need to accomplish, from the supervision of grads, to sorting out some database issue, but it makes the job really interesting How did you get involved in GLACUHO? I knew about GLACUHO while in undergrad and grad school. I thought my career goals would take me out of Higher Ed so I didn’t get involved back then. My involvement didn’t start until a friend and co-worker at the time encouraged me submit a program proposal to present at a GLACUHO Conference. I presented twice at my first GLACUHO conference in Columbus, Ohio and that was the start of my involvement and I haven’t looked back. What is your favorite GLACUHO memory? Meet Jeremy Alexander, the Assistant Director for Residential Communications and Greek Court at Eastern Illinois University. He is responsible for website and social media for University Housing and Dining Services at EIU. His job allows him to work with a variety of departmental initiates and projects that ranges from marketing and promotions to the implementation of new information systems. Most recently Jeremy has be assigned additional responsibilities for the day to day running of EIU’s Greek Court area which adds a new set of challenges to his position. Can you tell me a little bit about your current position, and what you like most about it? My position is a hybrid between a housing operations role and a residence life role since I live in and also do conduct. Most recently I have taken on role of running our Greek Court area here at EIU. I’m one of the key persons that take care of several of our information systems, websites and social media marketing. Day to
This one might be a little of a cheat but each time we publish Trends. I enjoy all the things that I have participated in since being since getting involved in GLACUHO, such as the Annual Conferences, Winter Meetings etc. But each time the committee comes together to crank out the next edition of Trends is a time that I truly enjoy. From the start, soliciting articles from the membership to working on content and layout for the magazine. See all the hard work come together and bouncing all the ideas of each other have been a truly rewarding experience. What advice would you give someone who is looking to get more involved in the organization? Dive in; there is always a number of projects or initiatives that you can assist the organization with. Stay on top of the social media or emails from GLACUHO as that main ways we communication things that are coming up. Don’t be afraid to jump into something that you might not be an expert at, you never know what new talents you might develop.
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Member Spotlight: Danielle Lynne Burke B Y B R I C O O P E R | U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S AT C H I C A G O B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & M A R K E T I N G C O M M I T T E E
What accomplishment in the past year are you most proud of? I am very proud to have been able to move to a mid-level position this year. After attending PDI I returned with a renewed sense of confidence and better understanding of what it means to move up in this field and am excited to put much of that knowledge into practice. Outside of housing what is a passion area of yours, and how do you find ways to bring it into the work that you do? Outside of housing I am passionate about student leadership, especially women’s leadership. I have been fortunate in each position I’ve held to be able to incorporate leadership development into many areas of my work such as staff meetings as well as through formal programming and trainings. Can you tell us about a moment that you believe was really impactful in your career? Danielle Lynne Burke is the Assistant Director of Programming and Education at Elmhurst College Why did you enter the housing profession and what keeps you in it? I first entered the housing profession because I wanted to communicate a sense of belonging and care to each resident on campus, like I felt when moving to campus my first year of undergrad. I stay in it for those reasons as well as the fact that I believe Housing provides the best opportunities for a diverse campus and work experience. I love that every day there is a different challenge, a new project and new conversations and relationships formed.
When thinking about my career so far, I believe my time in my first position truly set the tone for who I would be as a professional. I was very fortunate to be able to try new initiatives, plan large processes and really step in wherever needed. I truly believe that gaining my initial experiences in a small college setting has been incredible impactful as to the way I view my work and relationships formed on campus. In true student affairs style – what is a fun fact about you, that you would like to share with GLACUHO? I have been an extra in three music videos and two movies. I really enjoy getting to see the behind the scenes aspect of creation. Do you have a twitter handle you’d like to share with GLACUHO? @daniellelynne
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Member Spotlight: Christy Anglade B Y B R I C O O P E R | U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S AT C H I C A G O B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & M A R K E T I N G C O M M I T T E E
undergrad to grad to professional, I was fascinated with learning more about how a department functions, how decisions are made, and how those decisions impact our staff and our students. I love creating new processes, tweaking ideas to improve communities, and helping set the standard for future practice. What accomplishment in the past year are you most proud of? I am extremely proud of my role with the James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute. I went from being a participant in 2013, to working on Michigan State University’s bid team in 2014, to being invited to be a part of the host committee and then working with the NHTI transition team in 2015. As a participant, NHTI was the most impactful professional development experience of my career thus far. It is an honor to be part of the amazing team that is updating this experience to create a more accessible professional development experience for professionals in housing. Christy Anglade is the Staff Recruitment, Selection, and Training Coordinator at Michigan State University Why did you enter the housing profession and what keeps you in it? In undergrad, I served in various roles as a campus leader (student admissions recruiter, resident assistant, academic support specialist, etc). Towards the end of my college career, I began to realize that the moments when I was happiest was when I was working with students. The decision to enroll in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Masters’ program at the University of South Carolina seemed like a perfect fit. I felt that an assistantship in housing as a graduate hall director would give me a wide range of experience and allow me to collaborate with many other campus resources, which would hopefully help me to identify a passion area. Working in housing over the years has challenged me in different ways, and I felt like I was constantly learning and growing. I loved the camaraderie among all levels of staff, the ability to work closely with students, and developing community in our residence halls through our programming and engagement models. As far as what keeps me here: I have heard from say that working in housing is a way to “be an RA for forever,” but that was never my intent. As I transitioned roles from
Outside of housing what is a passion area of yours, and how do you find ways to bring it into the work that you do? I am particularly passionate about working with recruitment, selection, and training. While my role now at MSU involves coordinating all of these processes for our student, graduate, and professional live-in staff, I have also specifically enjoyed helping graduate students prepare for the internship and job-search process. I love working with grads and new professionals to give them the tools to be confident and successful in their searches. Fortunately, I have been able to present at regional conferences and to student affairs graduate classes on job-searching at a national conference, the on-campus interview process, and creating a professional brand. Can you tell us about a moment that you believe was really impactful in your career? At the risk of sounding cheesy, the decision to move to Michigan and join the team at Michigan State University highly impactful to my career. I had been very comfortable at my previous institution – I had amazing colleagues, was close to family, and was beginning to build a solid network with regional professional associations. While I was an NHTI participant in 2013, I had the pleasure of meeting
8 | Trends Summer 2015 Dr. Kathy Collins. We talked about next steps, and she emphasized how supervising professional staff did not have to only be supervising a Resident Director position. We talked about the Community Director role at MSU and how it was a hybrid between a typical Resident Director and an Assistant Director. When an opportunity made itself available, I decided to take a leap of faith and move out of my comfort zone and about 800 miles away to join the MSU team. My transition was not all rainbows and butterflies; there were several times when I doubted and questioned my decision. However, a year and a half later, I can say without a doubt that coming to MSU was the best move I could have made for my career. I feel very connected to the GLACUHO Region, I am loving my work with the NHTI transition team, I am on the host committee for NHTI 2016-2018, and I recently transitioned to a new position as the Staff Recruitment, Training, and Selection Coordinator in Residence Education
and Housing Services at Michigan State University. In true student affairs style – what is a fun fact about you, that you would like to share with GLACUHO? I have a deep, deep love for old school video games. Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Battle Toads, Mortal Kombat, Streets of Rage, and River City Ransom were just a few of the games that I spent far too much time playing as a child. While I almost never play those now, I am at an embarrassingly high level in Candy Crush. Do you have a twitter handle you’d like to share with GLACUHO? @ChristieAnglade
JOB SEARCH & EXCHANGE INFORMATION
DVANCED ASSIGNED ASSESSED ABSORBED ACCELERATED ATTAINED ATTRACTED ANNOUNCE 9 | Trends Summer 2015 APPRAISED BUDGETED BOLSTERED BALANCED BOOSTED BARGAINED BENEFITED BENEFICIAL OMPLY CRITIQUED CLOSED COLLABORATED DESIGNED DELEGATED DEMONSTRATED DEVELOP ECTED EFFICIENT ENHANCED EXCELLED EXCEEDED ENRICHED FULFILLED FINANCED FORECAS FORMULATED GENERATED GUIDED GRANTED HELPED HOSTED IMPLEMENTED INVESTIGATED CREASED INITIATED INFLUENCED INTEGRATED INNOVATED INSTITUTED JUSTIFIED LISTED LOGGE MAINTAINED MENTORED MEASURED MULTIPLIED NEGOTIATED OBSERVED OPERATED OBTAINED ROMOTED PRESENTED PROGRAMMED PROVIDED PROJECTED QUALIFIED QUANTIFIED QUOTE RECOMMENDED REFINE REVAMP REACTED RETAINED RECOVERED REINSTATED REJECTED USTAINED SKILLED SAVED SCHEDULED SUPPORTED SECURED SIMPLIFIED SCREENED SEGMENTE REAMLINED STRENGTHENED TRIUMPHED TROUBLESHOT TAUGHT TUTORED TRANSLATED TRAINE UNCOVERED UNITED UNIFIED UPDATED UPGRADED VALIDATED VIEWED WORLDWIDE WITNESSEDADVANCED ASSIGNED ASSESSED ABSORBED ACCELERATED ATTAINED ATTRACTED ANNOUNCED APPRAISED BUDGETED BOLSTERED BALANCED BOOSTED BARGAINED BENEFITED WESTERN NEW YORKDESIGNED DELEGATED OSHKOSH PLACEMENT NEFICIAL COMPLY CRITIQUED CLOSED COLLABORATED DEMONSTRAT JOB SEARCH PLACEMENT EXCHANGE EXCHANGE VELOPED DETECTED EFFICIENT ENHANCED EXCELLED EXCEEDED ENRICHED FULFILLED FINANC ONLINE RESOURCES On behalf of NEACUHO & CSPA-NYS Gruenhagen Conference Center FORECASTED FORMULATED GENERATED GUIDED GRANTED HELPED HOSTED IMPLEMENTED Location rotates. 208 Osceola St, Oshkosh, WI 54901 Early March. INTEGRATED INNOVATED AIMHO Website: Typically End of February. NVESTIGATED INCREASED INITIATEDTypically INFLUENCED INSTITUTED JUSTIFIED Typically a 1 day event. http://www.aimho.org/networking/ Typically a 2.5 day event. LISTED LOGGED MAINTAINED MENTORED MEASURED MULTIPLIED NEGOTIATED OBSERVED https://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/wn https://www.theope.org ype/ PERATED OBTAINED PROMOTED PRESENTED PROGRAMMED PROVIDED PROJECTED NWACUHO Website: QUALIFIE http://nwacuho.org/membership/get QUANTIFIED QUOTED RECOMMENDED REFINE REVAMP REACTED RETAINED RECOVERED -connected/jobs/ REINSTATED REJECTED SUSTAINED SKILLED SAVED SCHEDULED SUPPORTED SECURED SIMPLIFIED SOUTHERN PLACEMENT REENED SEGMENTED STREAMLINEDACPA STRENGTHENED TRIUMPHED TROUBLESHOT TAUGHT TUTOR STUDENT AFFAIRS GLACUHO Website : CENTER http://www.glacuho.org/networking/ TRANSLATED TRAINED UNITED UPGRADED VALIDATED VIEWED VIRTUALUNIFIED CAREERUPDATED FAIR On behalf of SACSA, SEAHOUNCOVERED & opening_search.asp On behalf of ACPA ASSESSED ABSORBED ACCELERATED ATTAINED SWACUHO WITNESSED ADVANCED WORLDWIDE ASSIGNED Virtual location. Holiday Inn and Fogelman Executive ATTRACTED ANNOUNCED APPRAISED BUDGETED BOLSTERED BALANCED Typically Mid-February. Center at the University of Memphis MACUHOBOOSTED Website: BARGAINE Typically a 1 day event. 330 Innovation Dr #206, Memphis, TN http://www.macuho.org/networking/ BENEFITED BENEFICIAL COMPLY CRITIQUED CLOSED COLLABORATED DESIGNED DELEGATED https://www.careereco.com/Fair/Eve 38152 ntDetails?fairId=20b76993-f895-4ea2DEMONSTRATED DEVELOPED DETECTED EFFICIENT ENHANCED EXCELLED EXCEEDED ENRICHED Typically Early February. UMR-ACUHO Website: a99e-a3c1000f1ca3 Typically a 1 day event. ULFILLED FINANCED FORECASTED FORMULATED GENERATED GUIDED GRANTED HELPED HOSTE http://www.umrhttp://southernplacement.org acuho.org/careers.php LEMENTED INVESTIGATED INCREASED INITIATED INFLUENCED INTEGRATED INNOVATED INSTITU STIFIED LISTED LOGGED MAINTAINED MENTORED MEASURED MULTIPLIED NEGOTIATED OBSERV WACUHO Website: PERATED OBTAINED PROMOTED PRESENTED PROGRAMMED PROJECTED QUALIFIE ACPA CAREER CENTRAL PROVIDED http://wacuho.org/jobsurf/ MID-ATLANTIC On behalf of ACPA QUANTIFIED QUOTED RECOMMENDED REFINE REVAMP REACTED RETAINED RECOVERED Virtual location which is year-round. PLACEMENT StudentAffairs.com Website: Location rotates. REINSTATED REJECTED SUSTAINED SKILLED SAVED SCHEDULED SUPPORTED SECURED SIMPLIFIED CONFERENCE Typically a 4 day event. http://jobs.studentaffairs.com REENED SEGMENTED STREAMLINEDhttp://www.myacpa.org/careerSTRENGTHENED TRIUMPHED TROUBLESHOT TAUGHT TUTOR On behalf of MACUHO Location rotates. central TRANSLATED TRAINED UNCOVERED UNITED UNIFIED UPDATED UPGRADED VALIDATED VIEWED HigherEdJobs.com Website: Typically Early/Mid-March. WORLDWIDE ADVANCED ASSIGNED ASSESSED ABSORBED ACCELERATED ATTAINED https://www.higheredjobs.com/defa Typically a 2 WITNESSED day event. ult.cfm https://macuho.site-ym.com ATTRACTED ANNOUNCED APPRAISED BUDGETED BOLSTERED BALANCED BOOSTED BARGAINE BENEFITED BENEFICIAL COMPLY CRITIQUED COLLABORATED DESIGNED DELEGATED SEAHOCLOSED PLACEMENT Academic360 Website: On behalf of SEAHO DEMONSTRATED DEVELOPED DETECTED EFFICIENT ENHANCED EXCELLED EXCEEDED ENRICHED http://www.academic360.com/ Location rotates. ULFILLED FINANCED FORMULATED GENERATED GUIDED GRANTED HELPED HOSTE NEW ENGLANDFORECASTED STUDENT Typically Mid/Late-February. The Chronicle of Higher INSTITU Typically a 2.5 day event. LEMENTED INVESTIGATED INCREASED INITIATED INFLUENCED INTEGRATED INNOVATED AFFAIRS PLACEMENT http://www.seaho.org/networking Education Website: STIFIED LISTED LOGGED MAINTAINED MENTORED MEASURED MULTIPLIED NEGOTIATED OBSERV CONFERENCE https://chroniclevitae.com/job_searc Location rotates. h/new?cid=chenav PERATED OBTAINED PROMOTED PRESENTED PROGRAMMED PROVIDED PROJECTED QUALIFIE Typically Mid/Late May. QUANTIFIED RECOMMENDED REFINE REVAMP REACTED RETAINED RECOVERED Typically a 2 dayQUOTED event. https://sites.google.com/a/bacha.or REINSTATED REJECTED SUSTAINED SKILLED SAVED SCHEDULED SUPPORTED SECURED SIMPLIFIED g/nesapc/home REENED SEGMENTED STREAMLINED STRENGTHENED TRIUMPHED TROUBLESHOT TAUGHT TUTOR
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University Spotlight Ferris State University - Big Rapids, MI Quick Facts: Number of Students Enrolled: 14,600 Number of Beds: 3,100 School Colors: Crimson and Gold School Mascot: Brutus the Bulldog Institution Type: Public Description of the Student Population Ferris State University draws a lot of students from Michigan. Some students choose Ferris because it doesn’t feel too big, but isn’t too small either. FSU has a wide variety of degree programs which draw students who are looking for technical degree programs and some rare degree programs such as those in our optometry and pharmacy schools. Description of Housing / Residential Life Department
The Housing and Residence Life department is comprised of our director, assistant director, manager of business operations and budgeting, assignments coordinator, receptionist, and 9 hall directors. We have recently taken one residence hall down and another offline, so while there used to be 10 hall directors, we have rearranged building areas for 9. The central office has recently relocated to the newly renovated first floor of one of our large residence halls. The department is currently making plans for a new residence hall to be built, with work potentially starting as soon as Summer 2016! Interesting Facts about the Institution Ferris State University has a large number of degree programs, attracting students who are looking for technical and professional degrees. A new university center was completed in January 2015, providing a much needed update to the previous campus hub. The beautiful new center has allowed offices to relocate with updated furniture, a new dining center with retail food options, and plenty of new study and meeting spaces for students and organizations, all closer to the center of campus and most academic buildings. Ferris State University enjoys much success within their athletic teams, most notably with men’s hockey, but men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and men’s tennis and football have all had exceptional seasons this past year.
S U B M I T T E D B Y M A R C I C H O U | F E R R I S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y EDITED BY KYLE HOVEST | INDIANA UNIVERSITY B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & MARKETING COMMITTEE
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University Spotlight Kent State University - Kent, OH Quick Facts: Number of Students: 29,400 Number of Beds: 6500 School Colors: Blue and Gold School Mascot: Flash the Golden Eagle Institution Type: Public Description of the Student Population Kent State University has a unique student population that comprises students from near and far. Students at Kent State University are academically focused and very involved in extra-curricular activities. They are inspired by the history of May 4th, 1970 and are committed to preserving the history by inquiring, reflecting, and learning. With Kent State’s enrollment at record numbers, we are seeing much more diversity on campus and are hoping to continue in that direction. Description of Housing / Residential Life Department The Department of Residence Services is committed to enhancing and complementing the academic and personal development of students by cultivating and nurturing values that emphasize self-awareness, engagement in learning, responsible citizenship, support and development of relationships, and the honoring of human differences for a just community. The expression and realization of these fundamental commitments are integrated into the provision of residential facilities, services and programs that are designed to enhance student learning and support student success. Through the provision of caring and purposeful educators, committed and responsive staff, and a dynamic living experience, the department seeks to prepare students for the challenges and needs of a global and diverse society. Interesting Facts about the Institution •
Kent State’s unofficial mascot is the black squirrel due to the high number of black squirrels that live on campus
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Kent State is the 2nd largest institution of higher learning in Ohio
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Kent State University currently hosts the NSRO (NACURH Services and Recognition Office)
S U B M I T T E D B Y AT I N U K E O D U N A I YA - M O O R E | K E N T S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y EDITED BY KYLE HOVEST | INDIANA UNIVERSITY B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & MARKETING COMMITTEE
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A Six Letter Word with a Dramatic Influence
B Y M A R I A N N W E I S S | W R I G H T S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
When you have an emotionally taxing career, anything that happens outside of work can lead to exhaustion. When my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 2014, I hit that exhaustion. I was struggling to find that “thing” to help rejuvenate my spirits. That “thing” for me, ended up being the 2014 GLACUHO Annual Conference. Maybe it was the sessions, the networking, or just being away, but all these experiences provided different insights on how to manage work while moving forward in a difficult life circumstance. There are things you can and cannot control, but you can control your reactions to them. I began to think about how I would have handled and coped with this situation while I was in college. While I would have been closer to home at the time, I do not think I would have successfully been able to process this news or manage it along with my other involvements and academics. With the growing number of illness and cancer cases, I decided to investigate ways that we, as Student Affairs professionals, can help and support students who may be experiencing similar situations in their lives. Some of the best ways you can help: • Become familiar with your counseling and wellness office and structure. Are there certain counselors for certain situations? Do they take walk-ins? Are services free to students? How do they set up appointments? Encourage the student to talk with a professional regularly. • Know if there are certain people on campus who handle difficult student situations. Do you have an office or professional for Student Support Services? What services do they offer to students? Do they contact the student’s professors if they need to miss class? • Continuously follow up with the student. Whether it is in a one-on-one or a casual conversation, gauge their process, progress, stress and anxiety level. Offer a safe space for them when they need to talk or want help. Ask if there are specific things that you could do to help them. • Reality Checks & Perspective. Students will most likely end up taking on unnecessary stress they cannot control. Help the student identify which role their loved one needs them to take on. While illness does have a great effect on a person’s loved ones, help the student understand that there are thoughts, feelings, pains, and procedures that the patient is dealing with. Encourage that the patient should make as many
15 | Trends Summer 2015 decisions as possible. The patient’s ability to cope and process may be different than their student’s. Patience and understanding is key. • Attitude is everything. The energy you carry around does impact people. Be aware of the energy and attitude you bring when talking and meeting with that student. Explain the importance of their attitude and demeanor with their loved one. • Make sure the student is taking care of themselves. It is easy to put your own well-being on the back burner (as ResLife professionals, we have some practice at this). Remind the student that sacrificing their own wellness will not help. • Be the academic encourager! Motivate the student to better manage their time and procrastination, and work ahead if at all possible. There may be a point when the student may need to leave campus for an extended period of time. The less they need to worry about academics when they are away, the better. One person suffering is enough; to let grades suffer in response is only hurting the student more. • Be flexible. If the student is one of your employees, see if there are tasks or things you can help them manage. Maybe it is helping them make door decorations during their one-on-one, or helping them plan a program. The student may need more time and their mind may not be on their job as much as you prefer. • Gather appropriate research for the student. Find information that will be resourceful for them on the condition and how to be the best caregiver. Encourage the student to develop questions for the doctor, versus looking online and utilizing WebMD. The doctors handling the case are the ones who know the case and the specifics. The doctors will also be able to point you to the most relevant resources and research for the diagnosis. • Laughter is the best medicine. Somehow, someway, get them to laugh. Serious conditions can take on serious demeanors. Encourage the student’s sense of humor as a way to cope and focus on something more positive. Since no case is the same, there is no cookie cutter reaction. Being able to provide resources and an ear are some of the greatest things we can lend students, especially students who are not living in close proximity to where they need to be. Do not be afraid to refer students on to someone who is more qualified. Be ready for the student to let you know what they need and try to serve them in the best way you can and within your capabilities. References: For spouses, families, and friends. (2014, June 26). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/ treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/copingwithcancerineverydaylife/a-message-of-hope-for-spousesfamilies-friends. Lynch, K. (n.d.). 6 Best Ways to Support a Loved One Who Has Cancer. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://life. gaiam.com/article/6-best-ways-support-loved-one-who-has-cancer. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.nccn.org/patients/ resources/life_with_cancer/managing_symptoms/long_distance.aspx. When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer. (2014, September 1). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www. cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/when-someone-you-love-has-advanced-cancer.
GLACUHO DATES TO REMEMBER
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August 17, 2015 GLACUHO 2015 Conference Online Registration Opens
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 TRENDs Submission Deadline
October 5, 2015 - October 7, 2015 ACUHO-I Business Operations Conference Click here to learn more!
Friday, October 16, 2015 GLACUHO Conference Hotel Block Ends
October 17, 2015 - October 19, 2015 ACUHO-I Living-Learning Programs Conference Click here to learn more!
October 19, 2015 – October 22, 2015 ACUHO-I/APPA Housing Facilities Conference Click here to learn more!
Friday, October 23, 2015 GLACUHO Conference Online Registration Closes
November 08 – November 10, 2015 GLACUHO 2015 Annual Conference in Flint, Michigan
Thursday, December 31, 2015 TRENDs Submission Deadline
November 13 – November 15, 2016 GLACUHO 2016 Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
Lifestyle Section B Y R E X A N N W H O RTO N
| LAKE FOREST COLLEGE AND
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RYA N B Y E | VA L PA R A I S O U N I V E R S I T Y
B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E & M A R K E T I N G C O M M I T T E E
This edition of our Lifestyle feature highlights two professionals searching for ways to get more active. If you would like more information about wellness opportunities within our professional association, please contact Carianne Meng at healthwellness@glacuho.org or visit the Health and Wellness Committee section of the GLACUHO website.
Cycling the Miles Away By Jeremy Alexander | Eastern Illinois University A few years ago I started thinking about hobbies that interested me and fit my style. I had few that I enjoyed and relished in at the time but I wanted something that would get me out of the apartment and double as a good work out. All my life, I have always been relatively active; having run track since I was about 8 years old until my junior year of college. So it is safe to say that I have crossed off many mile markers in my life. However, since my retirement of competitive running, I have become less active. Cycling appealed to me because it was something that I hadn’t done since I was a kid. When I was younger, I spent many hours on my BMX trying out everything possible, the bruises that I still possess are testament to my early childhood dedication. Again, not only was this an opportunity to take on a new skillset, but cycling was something that I could do to stay fit or get into better shape while exploring a little more of the Charleston, IL area. The search began and I spent many hours on the internet (another deep interest of mine) looking at all manner
18 | Trends Summer 2015 of bikes. I looked at road bikes, mountain bikes, commuters, and intermediate bikes. The specialization of some of the bikes were a little astounding, but what was far more surprising was the prices for these bikes. Some of the bikes I saw were an eye watering $5000. I could not fathom that a bike could cost so much. What magical materials was this thing made of and how would it make me my meals just the way I liked it? After drooling at bikes that were way out of my price range, my practical side kicked in and I decided rather than buying an expensive bike, I would start off with a bike in the $250 range. This decision made sense as I did not want to spend a lot of money on a hobby that I was not sure I would completely commit to at that moment. So the search narrowed and I was out to see how much bike I could get in my budget. My online search included sites such as eBay, Craigslist, Amazon, Walmart and Target, just to name a few. Eventually I found a bike, ordered it from Target, and patiently waited for it to arrive. The bike arrived and it was now my mission to get it assembled as quickly as possible as I was impatient to get out on the road for the first time in ages. I also scoped out some apps that I could use to track my ride as I wanted to be able to track my progress over time, but also to see the distance that I covered and how fast. I ended up selecting mapmyride (http://www.mapmyride.com), a sister app to mapmyrun (http://www.mapmyrun.com), that I have seen a lot of my friends use. There are a number of apps out there one worth noting (for those interested Strava https:// www.strava.com/). The preference of the search came down to one I liked best, or one in which my friends use, as it’s a little more fun to be able to benchmark against other people. After the bike was assembled and my fitness app ready to calculate, I was ready for my first ride. To call the adventure an eye-opener would be an understatement. My first ride only covered about 4.3 miles at a pace of 10MPH and took more out of me than I expected it to. There were some quick lessons learned after this first ride: I wasn’t in as good of shape as I thought, and I had some work cut out for me. And there were things that I didn’t give full consideration to prior to this ride. I learned how to dial in a comfortable ride position on the bike and slowly but surely improved my distance and pace. This brings up a very important point about bike fit, a factor that I did not take in to full consideration on my initial bike purchase, but something that I have come to appreciate how important it is. Consult with a cyclist friend or your local bike shop to help you get a good bike fit. There are also tons of resources online that can help you with that as well and one of my favorites is the Global Cycling Network (GCN) on YouTube. (For those interested in the link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=XajS5VnWx2s&index=16&list=PLUdAMlZtaV12IYhQ4OkDJeLVwx21LT_7_). One thing I should have done prior to my first ride was have my bike serviced by a professional, but I didn’t know any better. I do recommend even if you buy a bike that is fully assembled from a Walmart or Target that it be taken to a local bike shop for a once over, to ensure you’re safety. Sometimes prices for such service might sound a little expensive, but it is really worth it. Plus the expertise will help you avoid putting a front fork on backwards, something I initially did. (https://instagram.com/p/ZJHm6qBJ_2/?taken-by=jdwalexander). Before one were to go out riding there are a number of things that should be considered for safety purposes. A properly fitting helmet (you can go to your local bike store or get a cyclist friend), a pair of sunglasses, something to help protect your eyes from the wind and sun, a water bottle or two as hydration is really important, and athletic gear such as a close fitting dry fit shirts and shorts due to aerodynamics coming into play on bike rides and the wind being an enemy. As one becomes more serious with the hobby, cycling gear will be a step up in gear, is a little expensive but definitely worth it. Over the past few years I have racked up a few thousand miles on my bike. It is one of those things that I have truly developed a passion for in my time participating. Be able to explore the back roads of the town and go way out in the country has been really exciting, not to forget about it being a really good work out. One average I will go out for a ride that is anywhere from an hour to several hours while covering 16 to 50 miles per trip (still working my way up to the big 100 mile ride). Speed and distance depends on each specific rider and feeling for that day, but places will have groups that ride together, so a simple internet search can assist with that information. I have graduated to my second bike, significantly more than my initially budget of $250, but I know this is something that I enjoy doing with understanding that I will put in both the time and effort to continue to enjoy.
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Crossfitting By Alison Sinadinos | Indiana University My name is Alison and yes I am one of those Crossfitters. The ones who talk about crossfit and eating Paleo all of the time. That sure is me, but it wasn’t me a little over a year ago. When I first started working at Indiana University I realized how unhealthy my life was and realized that I needed to make some major changes. So at first I got a membership to the recreation center here on campus thinking that I could attend the classes and that would be enough to help me get back into shape. For a while I was, I lost about 20 pounds and I was feeling better, but I was still pretty unhealthy and I had not addressed my eating habits. Then a large commercial gym opened in Bloomington, which was offering 10 dollar memberships, so I jumped ship. At first I was really committed to going to this gym every day after work, but I was not feeling healthier. I was getting bored with running on a treadmill or elliptical and then pretending like I knew how to lift weights. I needed something more I needed a place that had faces I recognized, that had coaches who would help me along my journey, I needed Crossfit. I had heard about Crossfit from a friend of mine a few years ago and it seemed like something that I would really enjoy, but it was more expensive than my 10 dollar monthly membership at the commercial gym, but then the magic of Groupon happened. One of the Crossfit gyms in town had a Groupon deal that you could get a month of their boot camp program for 28 dollars. I jumped at this opportunity as I felt it was finally my chance to see what Crossfit was all about. I joined and after the first week at Hoosier Crossfit I was hooked. The first couple of days were hard. They were some of the most tasking workouts I had ever done, but something made me go back for more. That something was community. In Student Affairs we talk about and value community. We understand that a community can make or break a student’s or professional’s experience. They also understand that in Crossfit. They understand that we are doing extremely tasking things with our bodies and sometimes our minds take over and tell us to quit, but when a fellow athlete is cheering you on something comes over you and it prevents you from quitting. The coaches at Hoosier Crossfit embody a value of community and stress it to their members. This community inspired me enough to address my problem eating. In September I started my first Paleo challenge with about 20 other members at my gym through a company called Lurong. This was an 8 week challenge of eating strict Paleo and having weekly workouts. This challenge was very difficult for me, but I got through it because of the community I was a part of. We exchanged recipes and helped each other with the workouts and 8 weeks later I had lost 14 pounds. Crossfit has also helped me with finding this unicorn that we all speak of, work/life balance. Granted I don’t really believe in having an even balance of work and life and do not know that there is a magical balance out there,
20 | Trends Summer 2015 but I think I have come to a better balance in my life and that is because of the gym. In Crossfit you attend classes and you need to be on time or there is a penalty. So I make sure that I am on time which forces me out of my office at the end of the day, which without the pressure I am sure I could spend many more hours in. When you get to the gym you leave a lot of the day’s issues and things that are weighing on your mind at the door or you use that energy to push you through the workout. When I reflect on what I am thinking when I am in the middle of the work out, I am only thinking about the movements and that is the most freeing experience. Living in the moment of the workout, focusing on your movement mechanics, hearing people cheering you on, it is the most amazing moment that frees you from the constraints of the world. If you are interested in Crossfit I would say look up gyms in your area. Most gyms offer a free introductory workout. In this workout they will talk to you about their gym, what Crossfit is and go through a workout with you. This workout will not be one in which you are doing pull ups and jerking a bar over your head, but it will introduce you to some movements. The gym I go to also has free community workouts once a month that anyone can attend. I would also say to shop around. Try different gyms to get the right fit. Ask a lot of questions about the gym and about the coaches. You want to make sure the coaches are people who care about your success. One thing I appreciate about the coaches at Hoosier Crossfit is that they are hard on us. They correct us when we are doing the movement wrong, we go over movement mechanics in each class, and because of this I know they care about us. They want to see us succeed and become better versions of ourselves and they show us that by correcting us when we are wrong and cheering for us when we are doing the work right. They are the loudest voices in the crowd when we are competing and they are overall amazing role models. The coaches set the tone for the gym and for the community so you need to get to know who they are and what they value. I know there are a lot of negative stereotypes and feelings about Crossfit, but if you go to a gym that holds integrity, community, quality and accountability as core values that they teach and practice then you shouldn’t run into a problem. Looking back at my first year in Crossfit I am so surprised by what I have accomplished. I have become healthier in my body and my mind. I have competed in the Crossfit Games Open (Olympics of Crossfit). I even competed in an all women Crossfit competition in which I set a new personal record, but most of all I have gained a family of other Crossfitters who all take care of one another. We are a community of people who make each other better and who believe in each other when we do not believe in ourselves. Some people may think I am crazy when they see the bruises and scars on me from the work outs that we do, but for me it is all worth it when I look at who I was a year ago and celebrate with my new family who I am today.
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Promoting Academics within our Residence Halls- A New Position to Promote Academic Initiatives and Retention
BY KELSEY CRIPE | EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y T H E S T U D E N T L E A R N I N G C O M M I T T E E
In continuation to the previous Trends article edition focusing on unique academic initiatives, this article will focus on highlighting a unique academic position within Eastern Illinois University’s (EIU) Housing and Dining department that focuses on supporting academics and retention within the residence halls. One unique position on EIUs campus is the graduate position of Associate Resident Director for Academic Initiatives and Retention. Currently there are two positions, which are filled by one first year and one second year graduate student in the College Student Affairs program. There are many things that this position does for EIU’s Housing and Dining team, with all functions focused around coordinating academic success initiatives, retention efforts, and student development programs. There are many major projects that these graduate students focus on throughout the academic year. This office serves as an academic resource and promotes tutoring programs within the residence halls. One program is Homework Heroes, which is a volunteer study
program throughout the residence halls that promotes academic peer-mentoring through current residents. Another program this office puts on, which was started in 2014, is “EIU Goals”. This program assisted RAs and residents within the residence halls to set academic goals, which were followed up by the use of the EIU Housing and Dining twitter account, which posted academic tips and advertisement of academic events. “Study Bucks” was another program that this office initiated in 2014, where each residence hall was provided “Study Bucks” to use in their building to promote studying in their communities and common areas. All programming within the residence halls focused on any demonstrated needs of residents, such as financial aid and scholarship workshops and “First Generation Game Night”. There are a lot of day to day items that these graduate students handle for the department. The first is the overseeing of the EIU Early Alert System for oncampus residents. This system allows faculty members to report concerning academic behavior to this office,
22 | Trends Summer 2015 which is then sent out to the RA of that resident to have a follow up conversation with that student. Once the RA has the conversation with the student, the information from that conversation is sent back to the office through this system. This office is also a constant hub of information and resources for RAs. This office provides RAs with information on planning programs focused on study tips, time management, academic success, retention, and leadership development. Two new initiatives that this office is promoting include “Get Smart Week” and “Nite Class”. “Get Smart Week” will be a week of activities that promote a positive academic culture within the residence halls. There will be programs each night of the week and will focus on topics such as time management, how to do well on finals, and end with a trivia night featuring RAs on campus. “Nite Class” is during the “Get Smart Week” which will be a late night study lounge area in the residence halls with coffee provided. This position also has additional tasks within the Housing and Dining department, ranging from serving on-call for crisis management to serving on committees and activities for the department. Both graduate students serve as the chair of a Housing departmental committee, which focuses on topics such as academic initiatives and retention efforts. In this committee they focus on assessment, RA support, marketing, programming, and recognition. In one residence hall on EIUs campus there is a Discovery Learning Community, which focuses on students who are undecided with their academic major. These graduate students provide community support for the residents living in this community by assisting them with academic programming and bringing in outside resources, which includes the Student Success Center, Financial Aid Office, and academic advising. Another large scale program that this office focuses on would be the coordination of the EIU Housing Faculty Fellows Program. This program allows faculty members from the EIU staff to be paired with a residence hall and participate in programs put on by those halls. The department also throws larger scale events of appreciation throughout the year for the Faculty Fellows, including a free ticket to an EIU basketball game with pizza and an EIU softball game with free food. Overall, this office is focused on supporting individual residents with their academics, as well as improving and enriching the academic culture within the EIU residence halls. This office also focuses a
great deal of time on the retention efforts of students by identifying areas of need from each resident and providing the necessary resources to assist the EIU students. These types of positions are not created without need. At EIU, we spoke with Jody Stone, Associate Director of Housing, to determine how this position came about. It all started prior to the academic year 2012-2013, where the housing administration staff made a list of the department and student’s needs, which then lead to conducting research on different job postings for Academic Initiative Specialists at other institutions. When the position was created, EIU had just bought an independent consultant, and it was identified that the Early Alert System was a major finding where they wanted EIU Housing to help keep our retention high and even improve it if possible. The Early Alert System was established based off of the book “Hardwiring Student Success: Building Disciplines for Retention and Timely Graduation”. Prior to having a graduate student in the position, the department considered a full-time option for an Academic Support Specialist, but hiring a full time professional would carry many additional costs. In 2012, the department identified that they could hire a graduate assistant from the EIU College Student Affairs program to focus on academic support, leadership, and retention within university housing. During the first year of this position, the department realized that having one graduate student was not enough for all of the tasks and initiatives the department wanted to pursue, which led to a two year, rotating, graduate assistant position with the use of two graduate students in this area. This position had to be approved and decided on by the Associate Director of Housing, the Director of Housing and Dining, and the Vice President for Student Affairs. In my personal opinion, I believe that this office has truly assisted in the academic success of the oncampus resident on EIUs campus. This office assists us, as residence hall staff, by identifying academic needs within our department, as well as focusing on academic programming for our specific residence halls. It is also beneficial, because this office holds a large amount of resources for us to use when we see a common need arise. In the next Trends article, we will be focusing on new student positions in Housing departments that focus around academics, as well as the implications of starting a new position.
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How to Make Friends in a New City BY SARAH BOECKMANN | BUTLER UNIVERSITY
So, you’ve found the job you really wanted, but it’s in a new city where you hardly know anyone. It can be difficult to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people, but it’s something you should do to keep a balanced life. Sometimes it can be more comfortable to throw yourself into work rather than into an unfamiliar social scene. Making friends in a new city can be a time consuming and sometimes frustrating endeavor, especially when you work in an area where you’ve likely already got some built-in social networks. Certainly, you should use these built in social networks, however, when you’re living where you work, remember that finding a social network and support outside of your work environment is vital to help create a healthy work life balance. Keep reading for tips and advice on how to begin to create that network. 1. Join an alumni chapter. Does your alma mater have a large alumni network? If so, look into joining! You can connect with old friends who you may not have known were in the same city as you. 2. What are your hobbies and interests? Join a club, group, or organization. • Do you like sports? There are tons of adult recreational sports leagues out there! • Do you enjoy reading? Go to the library, they sponsor more social events than you may think! • Do you like working out? Look into different gym memberships…you can meet a lot of people with similar interests as you at the gym. • Do you belong to a church? Try going to a local church, where you may meet people who have similar interests. • Do you enjoy volunteering? There are always opportunities to meet people through volunteering at events. 3. Get out of your comfort zone! Don’t be afraid to try a new restaurant alone or go to a bar solo. You’d be surprised how easy it can be to strike up a conversation with someone else there. 4. There’s an app for that! Ever tried the app called MeetUp? It can be used to find people with similar interests and do activities with them. Love salsa dancing? MeetUp with people who are also going to a salsa dancing class at 7 pm on Thursday! 5. Stay close with your old friends. When you keep other friendships alive, you’ll feel more comfortable and at home in a new place; a Skype date or phone call from an old friend can always brighten your day. Also, old friends may know people in your new area and they could be that person to connect you with new friends. These are just some of the many ways to meet new people in a new city. In my experience, I moved to a large city, but only knew a few people. I got out of my comfort zone and followed some of my passions. I joined a rock climbing league and am on a dodgeball team. I started at a new gym and frequent the library. Through all of these things, I’ve met new people and made some new friendships. Having these networks outside of my work environment helps me to keep a fairly healthy work life balance; I have adjusted to my job while making new friends and am taking advantage of living in a fun and busy city
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Dan Barker, Northwestern University Jenny Douglas, Northwestern University Laura Williams, Lake Forest College Programming and Development Committee
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March - May Program Proposal Submission Period o o
May - June Program Proposal Review Period o o
June - July Program Selection o
o o
September - November Conference Preparation o o
November GLACUHO Annual Conference
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The Winding Path of Grief
BY CARIANNE MENG
| DENISON UNIVERSITY
My father received a diagnosis of end-stage lung cancer in October 2014. I was not prepared. Who could be prepared for that news? In an attempt to ready myself for what the future held, I did some quick internet research and learned that he would likely survive nine months to two years with treatment, in best-case scenarios. I confirmed this with a Certified Nurse Practitioner and that unofficial prognosis became my new earworm. Nine months to two years with treatment. There was no amount of hope that could convince me to let go of those numbers. I said them often. People who encouraged me to be hopeful were met with an explanation that this was the only reasonable approach and I would be better off for thinking this way. On January 28, 2015 at 6:30AM I got the call that my father passed away during the previous night. I stopped the treadmill where I was running. One of my students was running next to me and I told her the news. I cried for a moment. I finished my run. I went to work. Then, I realized that I could not work. I was incapable. I had a moment of clarity: I had no idea how to do this. Loss was unfamiliar to me and I quickly realized that there is no formula or search result to help manage work and life in the wake of personal crisis. I soon felt like I was navigating a winding path in the fog, completely unsure when the next curve would arrive. I learned some things, however, and I hope others will find these suggestions helpful if facing loss of their own. • No timelines: In our work, we find comfort in timelines. We know when room selection occurs. We know August will be hectic. Even for the most spontaneous, these predictabilities ground us. Committing to a timeline for my father’s illness was a mistake. I felt cheated in the end. (In fact, I learned from my father’s oncologist that medical professionals rarely give a prognosis to terminally ill patients; patients who pass sooner than the prognosis feel cheated while those who survive beyond predictions lose hope and become angry.) Grief, loss and crisis often provide an opportunity to pause, reflect and reevaluate. Use the time you have, as much as you can. Utilize vacation days to spend time with people you love. Or, simply spend time with yourself.
27 | Trends Summer 2015 Similarly, if grieving, do not give your grieving process a timeline. You cannot move through the five stages of grief and loss in five days, five weeks or even five months. Many institutions provide three days of leave for bereavement; that hardly feels adequate. Work with your supervisor to take the time you need, when you need it (which may or may not be an unexpected Wednesday six months later). • No guilt: After my father passed, I felt guilty for needing to go home midday, for being sad during happy or fun moments for others, for being unable to focus or hold a meaningful individual meeting with a staff member. A friend reminded me to simply feel what I felt. During loss, feel what you feel and do what you need to do, but explain if you can – even if only to one person. When I needed to leave early or cancel a meeting, I would tell my supervisor and administrative assistant, both of whom were very understanding. I also learned how flexible my students could be to accommodate me when needed. Meetings can be rescheduled; tasks may be moved to another day. Do not feel badly about taking what you need to cope. • Nurture: In the midst of upheaval, it is easy to lose sight of the things that keep us well and healthy. Take time to nurture yourself. Practice meditation, journal, eat good food, exercise if you can, sleep when you feel the need, call friends and loved ones. You may want to rush back into a routine to gain a sense of normalcy where these activities fit naturally, but do not force it. Grief and loss force us to slow down. Use this time to examine your busy life; your priorities may be changing. It is perfectly acceptable to focus on things outside of your grief while also acknowledging how you feel and showing yourself love. • Manage expectations: Crisis, change, loss and turmoil impact every area of life. It is important to manage two kinds of expectations: work and life. • Work: If you will be away, clarify with your supervisor what you will be able to do from afar and what will need to wait. Stand up for yourself in this area and commit only to what you can reasonably accomplish while honoring your experience. Be sure to set an out of office reply, compose canned responses for typically asked questions and change your voicemail greeting. While it is tempting to simply say that you are away from the office, I find people respond more generously if you give some idea of what is going on, however limited. For example: Thank you for your message. I am away from the office due to a family emergency. Please contact X for assistance. • Life: Our work and our lives tend to bleed together in student affairs, and particularly in residential life. In the midst of crisis, it is tempting to expect colleagues will yield to you out of respect for your experience. Unfortunately, not everyone is good at comforting us or providing the help we need; very little has changed for them in the midst of your crisis. Try to share your experience, but manage your expectations of how others will respond. Try not to be upset with those who respond with silence and try not to be frustrated with those who help too much. The only one who knows what you truly need is you, so share that if you are able. • No major changes: Maybe I should job search? Should I move back to the East Coast? Should I get a tattoo? Should I move closer to my mother? Should I cut my hair? Can I afford to quit my job? Should I trade in my car? My mother spoke reason into me one morning when I launched idea #349 her way: no major changes for a year. When it feels like everything is out of our control, the temptation is to pick something to control. This manifests in a variety of ways for people, but I was tempted to make a big change, any big change. Until upheaval settles down, try not to make permanent changes
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Now What?: Wellbeing Through Transition
BY CAITLIN KIRCHNER | ELMHURST COLLEGE
We can all probably remember accepting a new job: it feels exciting to know that we get to take on a new position and adventure in our careers. We planned intentionally and looked diligently for positions that could be the right fit. We worked hard at the seemingly countless cover letters and resumes; wowed during the interviews. An offer, some negotiation, figuring out start dates and then we pack up our office and our home. All of a sudden it seems, here we are! It’s a new school, department, office, and potentially, a very unfamiliar place. Many of us have made a move or two into unfamiliar territory. I have made two cross-country and one crosstime zone moves in just five short years myself. What I’ve noticed after reflecting upon my move and those of colleagues is that, while we learn about and do a great job supporting our students through their big transitions, sometimes we forget to do that for ourselves. Taking on a new, exciting position at a different school doesn’t mean just transitioning your professional life, it means transitioning everything else in your life too. When looking at transitioning to a new place and wellbeing in that transition, the Gallup Wellbeing framework fits well. From years of research across over 100 countries, Gallup identified five areas of wellbeing: Career, Social, Financial, Physical and Community. These are areas of our lives about which we can do something to improve our quality of living. Here are some thoughts for how to do that when moving and adjusting to a new place: Career: (“How you occupy your time, liking what you do each day”) • Ask for a list of people with whom you should connect. Invite for lunch, ask to get coffee, develop those partnerships early! • Learn the basics, but continue to look for opportunities to develop.Join a local group of professionals or a newcomers group. Social: (“Having strong relationships and love in your life”)
29 | Trends Summer 2015 • Don’t forget about your current relationships! Friends and their support are still valuable after moving. • Look for opportunities to create a new social network through your interests (meetup, church groups, fitness groups, etc.) • Be the inviter! If you’re making plans, invite others to join you rather than waiting for them to express interest. Financial: (“Effectively managing your economic life”) • What do you need to do to feel financially secure after your move? • How has the cost of living changed? Think about how you may need to change how you manage your finances in your new place. • Spend on experiences and look for ways to spend on others (those who do this have higher financial wellbeing) Physical: (“Having good health and enough energy to get things done”) • Make conscious decisions about choices that impact your health and work to establish a routine with effective sleep, eat, and exercise schedules. It might feel better now to eat pizza while unpacking, but also remember those habits you had before • Before your move, find the basics you need – places like the grocery store, farmers market, gym, yoga studio, etc. • Find healthcare professionals who accept your insurance before you are sick. Ask for referrals from prior physicians. Community: (“The sense of engagement you have with the area where you live”) • Choose to opt in. Learn about the history/culture, make a “bucket list” to explore places, go to community meetings. • Look into how you can you engage with your interests by volunteering or attending events. • Follow local social media accounts. Be ready for your transition to be hard. It can take more than six months to feel like you’re settling in and starting over can be daunting. Decide to start somewhere! Things like moving expenses and first day orientations might be taken care of, but remember that you are much more than your job and your transition is too. Don’t forget to take care of all aspects of yourself, so you can show up as your whole and well self everywhere. References: Rath, T., & Harter, J. (2010). Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements. New York, New York: Gallup Press.
The Facilities & Operations Committee
JANUARY MARCH JULY
SEPTEMBERDECEMBER
o Close out cleaning & audit keys & cards o Appreciation of summer help & staff
o Post ACUHO-I Position
DECEMBER
o Hold dates for returning camps o Marketing out again for potential camps o Review in September day camps w athletics o Feedback and debrief with constituents o Cost benefit analysis
AUGUST
o CONFERENCES ARE IN FULL SWING! o Schedule and prepare for student staff that cannot work remainder of summer
o CONFERENCES ARE IN FULL SWING! o Meeting and evaluating and assessment o Prep and finalize fiscal year divide up fiscal year and billing and hotel tax
JUNE
o Training staff students and or grad o Implementation of your summer program should begin and run a 10 week course o Key audit and card audit with closing o Flip all rooms that will be used for conferences after hall closing
o Market for following years new contracts o Look at master housing plan and or anticipated housing changes o Bring in pro staff training and guidance for summer assignments o Prep your summer housing buildings and meet with facilities/housekeeping to plan for their summer schedule o Finalize your linen schedule and look at agreement o Finalize summer schedule with facilities/housing and dining
APRIL
o Contracts should be returned o Hire & market student summer staff o Have ACUHO-I grad help interview
o Post, interview, and hire ACUHO-I intern o Finalize contracts & schedule space o Hire & market summer staff
FEBRUARY
o Submit to have an ACUHO-I Intern o Contracts out to your summer patrons
MAY
wants to remind you and your upcoming summer conference program about a suggested timeline for your conferences program. If you institution is looking at expanding to a summer conferences format the information below is a great resource to begin your conference experience. Contact a representative from the committee for more information!
GLACUHO Facilities & Operations Committee
31 | Trends Summer 2015
#WEW, How the small acts of HerBrina Shepherd has affected us B Y M O N I Q U E H A R M O N | E A S T E R N I L L I N O I S U N I V E R S I T Y, S A R A H B O E C K M A N N | B U T L E R U N I V E R S I T Y, E R I N TAY L O R | W E S T E R N M I C H I G A N U N I V E R S I T Y, MARSHALL | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA,
CARIANNE MENG | DENISON UNIVERSITY, C LOVEY Q U I A N A S TO N E | U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S AT
CHICAGO & ALISON SINADINOS | INDIANA UNIVERSITYg
Each Wednesday a group of fantastic women in the field receive a gift. This gift is a text message with the hashtag #WEW, for Women Empowerment Wednesday (also know as “#WEW”). HerBrina Shepherd of Butler University texts this lucky group of women to help empower them each week. The women who receive these messages from HerBrina feel extremely fortunate to have these messages of empowerment, encouragement and hope sent our way. We would like to thank HerBrina for her positive impact by sharing some of her messages and the ways they impacted us. On November 9, 2014, HerBrina started sending motivational messages. Some messages were funny, some right on time and some right on point. I appreciated several of her messages, but the one I appreciated the most came at the right time. The message read, “Stop comparing where you’re at with where everyone else is in life. It doesn’t move you farther ahead, improve your situation or help you find peace. It just feeds your shame, fuels your feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately it keeps you stuck. The reality is that there is not one correct path in life. Everyone has their own unique journey. A path that is right for someone else won’t necessarily be a path that’s right for you. And that’s okay! Your journey isn’t right or wrong, or good or bad. It’s just different. Your life isn’t meant to look like anyone else’s because you aren’t like anyone else. You’re a person all your own with a unique set of goals, obstacles, dreams, and needs. So stop comparing and start living! You may not have ended up where you intended to go. But trust, for once, that you have ended up where you needed to be. Trust that you are in the right place at the right time. Trust that your life is enough. Trust that you are enough!” I was at a point in my life where I compared myself to all of my friends who were married and in their dream careers. When HerBrina sent that message I knew she was being used by God. I stopped focusing on others and focused on myself and what I wanted and where I would like to be. She challenged me to focus on my inner diva! I enjoy her messages and I know she is not only a blessing to me, but to others as well. – Monique Harmon, Eastern Illinois University Every Wednesday morning I look forward to a motivational and inspirational text from my friend and coworker HerBrina. These messages always make my Wednesdays a little bit better! I love how they are deeper than just, “you are beautiful” and they always motivate me to be a better person and bring a smile to my face. Her messages always have some type of life lesson, advice, or a little bit of wisdom in them. A few months ago I
32 | Trends Summer 2015 received this message from her: “Take time and think about the person you want to be, the life you want to live. Think about it. This is one of the simple things that sets apart the successful people from the ordinary. They think about it and they know. Now this takes time. Great things take time. Slowly but surely start building your life the way you envision it to be! What type of legacy will you leave?! #WEW” It was a great reminder to me that it’s okay not to know exactly where I want to be in 15-20 years; that great work and great things take time to figure out. I am currently finishing up my first year of my first full-time position, which has been a wonderful year full of learning. HerBrina has been a great mentor and friend to me throughout this year, always listening to me and helping me with anything, giving me advice on how to be in the “real world”! It’s hard to even try to put into words how great her #WEW texts are and how much they mean to me. They are great and I hope she always continues to send them; my Wednesdays would be a little less bright without her messages! – Sarah Boeckmann, Butler University Every Wednesday, I wake up to a message from Ms. HerBrina. I may not always respond, but I read these messages and my day is simply made. Throughout the week, I honestly forget that she sends them (or forget that it’s Wednesday), so it is a surprise every time. My favorite text so far has been a recent one, which read, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what you are. To take pride in your thoughts, your appearance, your talents, your flaws, and to stop this incessant worrying that you cannot be loved for who you are!” The fact that she thinks about me enough on a weekly basis to want to make my world just a bit brighter is incredible. I hope this is a trend that spreads far and FAST!- Erin Taylor, Western Michigan University On the first Wednesday in June, we received the following message from HerBrina: “Your inner light is brighter, bigger, and more powerful than anything trying to extinguish it! #letyourlightshine #dontletothersdimit” A few years ago when a friend was having a tough time, I started to use the phrase, “Stay in the light.” I know it may sound like the trite equivalent of, “Keep your chin up,” but I find it more meaningful. To stay in the light means to believe that good things will happen, that problems will lead to solutions and that there is always something good to be recognized. Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to “stay in the light”. 2015 has been a year of trial and loss in my life and I try to remind myself to stay in the light in the face of new challenges. HerBrina’s reminder that our inner light is bright and powerful was a timely reminder to me. Sometimes, when things seem quite dark, it is powerful to be reminded that my own light is capable of brightening the dark corners of life. – Carianne Meng, Denison University WEW texts mean so much to me. HerBrina unknowingly sends a lot of them right when I need them. Getting them in the morning starts my day off on the right foot. A lot of times, the message can reset my mind for the remainder of the week in a positive direction. The most impactful WEW message is “Dear Beautiful, Fabulous, Talented Woman - you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will” I continue to start and do which can be hard, but this reminds me to take the first step and the rest will follow. – C. Lovey Marshall, University of Southern Indiana Today random acts of kindness and words of encouragement seem hard to come by even in our field when the hustle and bustle of the academic year can be a lot. However, a small group of women can count on starting their Wednesday with a word to lift, encourage, and inspire greatness. HerBrina never misses a beat and I count on her to give me that little dose of inspiration to keep me going when things get tough. Her latest message stated, “I hope you know you’re capable and brave and significant! Even when it feels like you’re not.” I feel like in a service based environment that is something that is needed to be heard and whisper in your ear from time to time. There are many studies that show that women who receive positive messages are more successful in accomplishing what they set out to do. I feel that HerBrina helps so many make it through their week to finish strong. I know I have appreciated getting these messages through the loss of my grandma last fall, my mother’s recent fight with colon cancer and the rigor of my job. HerBrina makes a world of difference and I appreciate her being a pocket full of sunshine in my life whether she realizes it or not! Thank you! – Quiana Stone, University of Illinois at Chicago Your strength and power comes from challenging yourself to say no to anything that won’t make you grow! To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment! Challenge yourself to be yourself even when it means standing out, going against the grain, and making others (even yourself) uncomfortable. Empower means to make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others
33 | Trends Summer 2015 permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others! #Fearless #freedom #liberation #empower #beyou #WEW I learned from a supervisor to choose a word at the beginning of the calendar year instead of making resolutions. This word is something that you will strive for and help guide your year. This year I have chosen empowerment. Over the past academic year I have made major changes in my personal life to become a healthier, more confident, stronger version of myself and this quote inspired me to continue on this journey. Changes that I have made have been strenuous and exhausting at times, but it has paid off and I wouldn’t change the journey that I have been on. I feel that I have been truly successful on my journey because I had friends along the way, like HerBrina, who were cheering me along as well as they allowed me to be a part of their journey which in turn gave me permission to do the same, as the quote says. – Alison Sinadinos, Indiana University We have all been very moved to be part of this group of absolutely inspiring women that HerBrina has chosen to inspire. We each have tough days that have been ultimately brightened by HerBrina’s quotes and kind words. We wanted to come together to write this article to highlight what HerBrina has started. We should all do something to empower others, we should all try to lift others up, and we should all help each other. We wanted to encourage others to follow in HerBrina’s footsteps and start your own line of quote sharing and empowerment. #WEW could easily be used to encourage your staff members, your students and your coworkers. It does not just need to stay as a network of women encouraging each other, but it can become something even bigger. We also wanted to thank HerBrina for the impact she has had on us. She has been on her own journey, but she has graciously decided to empower us to take our own journeys. She has helped so many of us when we needed it most and she doesn’t know how much it has meant to all of us. HerBrina, thank you for being absolutely fabulous and for empowering us, happy #WEW to our sister, friend and colleague HerBrina.
34 | Trends Summer 2015
Bumps in the road: Advice for personal crises
B Y B R I T TA N Y H O U S E | S A I N T M A RY ’ S C O L L E G E
Like many student affairs professionals, I completed graduate school before obtaining my first full-time position. I walked away from those two years feeling confident that I could respond to crises, challenge and support students, conduct difficult conversations, and make a difference in students’ lives. I naively thought graduate school taught me everything I needed to know to be prepared for my chosen career path. After an unexpected bump in the road, I realized there were some things graduate school couldn’t teach me or prepare me for. It was August 2013 and I was starting my second year as a full-time housing professional. I’d made it through my first year! I wasn’t a “newbie” anymore and I’d been given additional responsibilities as a returner. Let’s be honest, I was feeling pretty good about myself at this point. But then I wasn’t…I wasn’t feeling good physically, that is. After an exhausting few months of tests and waiting, I finally had an answer. I was diagnosed with cancer on November 1, 2013 and I was 26 years old. To say I was ill-prepared is an
understatement. You may wonder how any of this is relevant to you. You, or someone you work with, will most likely encounter a bump in the road at some point. Because we’re not just student affairs professionals; we’re not just housing officers; we’re people. Crises happen to us too. Graduate school teaches us how to be student affairs professionals. My cancer journey taught me how to balance being both a professional and a person. I wish I had figured out ahead of time how to do that. I’ve included some advice that I either wasn’t given or simply didn’t follow well. I hope it might be beneficial if you, or a colleague, face an unexpected bump in the road. Accept help from your fellow professionals. When I was diagnosed, I wasn’t the only person in shock. All the people who cared about me, felt helpless. I eventually learned that letting people assist me, gave them a sense of purpose. My supervisors and colleagues were absolute rockstars. They knew I wanted to be treated as normal as possible. I would have gone
35 | Trends Summer 2015 crazy if I wasn’t given responsibilities just because I was sick, but at the same time they provided me with flexibility, understanding, and unwavering support. They would check in on me, make me food, and just spend time with me doing normal things. Figure out what types of assistance you’re comfortable with and then accept graciously. Accept appropriate help from students. I was initially very hesitant to accept support from students. I was supposed to be the one providing that. Once I realized that it gave them a sense of purpose just like it did my coworkers, I gratefully accepted appropriate forms of assistance. Although we may sometimes forget it, students are in fact adults. Maintain appropriate boundaries, but don’t shut them down completely. Be direct. People often said to me, “Let me know how I can help you.” In hindsight, I didn’t articulate what I needed. At the same time, I didn’t say what I didn’t need. I had someone who regularly offered to clean my apartment and I would try to brush it off. I should have directly explained I wasn’t comfortable with that. So whether it’s asking someone to drop off food or run an errand, advocate for yourself and be direct. Know your limits. You are not a superhero; you have limits. If you are overwhelmed with work, speak up and ask for assistance. See if a coworker can collaborate on a project with you, ask your supervisor for an extended deadline. It may not always be possible, but you don’t know if you don’t try. Don’t be so stubborn that you drop the ball.
of times I have referred students to a counselor or a chaplain. When a coworker/friend suggested I see a counselor or attend a support group, I refused. It is okay to not be okay, but sometimes that means you need professional and unbiased guidance. Establish work-life balance. Throughout six months of chemo, I only missed work when I had treatments and appointments. There were days when I should not have been at work. I was constantly telling students that they had too much on their plates, they needed to prioritize, take better care of themselves, etc. I was being a hypocrite. Eventually, I re-evaluated and made some drastic changes. By no means do I have a perfect balance and there are definite ebbs and flows. I continue to work at it every day because I have an example to set and so do you. I finished treatment about 14 months ago and I’m doing remarkably well. The experience I went through made me a better student affairs professional, a better colleague, and a better person. I know without a doubt, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the acceptance and support I received from the employees and students I worked with at Muskingum University. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel blessed and thankful to be a survivor. If you find yourself facing a bump in the road, know that you can and will get by with a little help from your student affairs friends.
Seek professional help. I can’t count the number
You do not have to be an avid writer, just someone passionate and willing to share your experiences in Student Affairs. Find out how to submit articles and make a difference in the GLACUHO region!
for more info, contact trends@glacuho.org
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